Performance car fans have been waiting to see it for months and finally the first images of the Subaru BRZ Concept have been released before its world premiere at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16.

In STI-badged concept form these images show a concept vehicle which has much of the styling predicted for the upcoming BRZ coupe. Both the BRZ and its development brother the Toyota FT-86 will be shown in production form at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.

Subaru isn’t saying much about specifications but has stated that the BRZ will have a very low centre of gravity and be a “pure handling delight.” The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre flat-four engine is expected to produce over 150kW and be linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox, and possibly, a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Continue reading “Subaru reveals BRZ STI Concept Coupe” »

The joint development of a lightweight sports coupe between Subaru and Toyota has provided much rumour and speculation. While Toyota has shown its hand at every opportunity with its FT-86 concepts, much little is known about Subaru’s mysterious BRZ. But with both cars set for world premiers at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show, interest has reached fever pitch.

Up until now, Toyota has tantalized us with three versions of its RWD coupe, while Subaru has revealing only a transparent concept in Geneva and Frankfurt with very little details.

When it was first revealed that Toyota and Subaru would collaborate in developing a low-cost, RWD sports coupe, fans of both brands were suitably excited. Since then it’s been all about the Toyota FT-86 with Subaru keeping much more quiet about the development of its version. Toyota has already unveiled several preview concepts of the FT-86 and all Subaru has given loyal fans is some images of the vehicles frame. But now that’s set to change.

The Frankfurt Motor Show is on in a couple of weeks and will be the scene for Subaru to reveal a ‘technology concept’ of its take on the sports coupe. While announcing its plans, Subaru announced the name of its new creation – BRZ.

What does it mean? BRZ stands for Boxer Rear-drive Zenith and will be used firstly on the concept called the BRZ Prologue. While it’s unknown exactly what a technology concept really is, expect at least some of the questions surrounding the BRZ to be answered at the Frankfurt show.

Subaru revealed its new shape 2012 Impreza earlier this year in standard trim, it looked good but fairly conservative. Despite this, WRX fans everywhere began imagining it with a full wide-body kit and big gold rims. But for the next WRX it’s not going to work like that, according to reports, the next WRX will be built as an entirely separate model line.

Due for release in 2014 the new WRX will apparently become a sports coupe with an entirely different body design to the new Impreza. The two models will continue to share a platform but the upcoming WRX will have a shortened wheelbase for improved handling dynamics, and other extra goodies.

A Subaru source said in a recent interview, “The first thing you must understand about our all-new WRX is that we have developed it from the ground up to win in motorsports events. That’s why we have focused so heavily on weight issues, not to mention a shorter wheelbase that permits faster, more precise turn-in. Marry that to our proven AWD system, and we think we have a winner.”

Subaru is going big and has announced plans to build and release four new models over the next five years. The biggest launch will be the much-anticipated sports coupe that’s in development in conjunction with Toyota. A new hybrid model is also expected.

Subaru has also revealed what it calls the ‘Motion-V plan’, which aims to generate global sales of 900,000 units per year by 2016. This will be a huge increase on the 633,000 sales the Japanese company has forecast for the current fiscal year.

Subaru’s new range will be lead out in the second quarter of 2012 with the global launch of the as-yet unnamed sports coupe, that’s nicknamed the Toyobaru. Toyota has released images and more details for its own ‘FT-86′ version of the vehicle, while Subaru has revealed very few details or photos of its concept. Continue reading “Subaru plans to release four new models by 2016” »

Subaru went to the 2011 Isle of Man TT race and returned home winners. No, the Japanese carmaker hasn’t created a high-tech AWD motorbike but it did take a near-stock standard WRX STI and run a time of 19 minutes and 37 seconds on the famous 60km course. That was quick enough to achieve a new record for a car traveling the course. But to get things into perspective the outright lap record for any vehicle stands at 17 minutes and 12 seconds set in 2009 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’ motorcycle.

To break the existing record the WRX had an average speed of 185kph and got up to 255kph on some of the longer straights. Ex WRC driver Mark Higgins took the Subie through 200 corners and had a frightening incident getting loose at 200kph before bringing it straight again.

The record-setting WRX STI is powered by standard production turbocharged engine pumping out 227kW. Safety modifications included the addition of a roll cage, fire-suppression system, special brake pads and a louder open exhaust to best warn spectators of an unexpected approaching car. Subaru also took off the car’s speed governor and tweaked the suspension with Tein dampers to handle the course’s famous jumps. Continue reading “Subaru reveals video of Isle of Man TT record settting lap” »

As a Pom who had not experienced the joys of living in Godzone during the construction of the Waikato Expressway, I was bemused to hear my Kiwi colleagues spend much of this week ranting about a ‘Taniwha’. Although I’ve made a point of learning some basic Maori phraseology so that I don’t become completed befuddled by the bilingual nature of some conversations – I now know that when I come home in the evening my wahine is expecting kai – this was entirely new ground.

When pressed, the rantee’s couldn’t exactly define what a Taniwha was – common consensus placed it somewhere between a tribal guardian and a monster and firmly in the realm of mythology – but their ire was raised by the fact that it was threatening to bugger up the proposed Auckland CBD rail tunnel.

For sale - One careful Taniwha owner

The Taniwha in question – this one is called Horotiu and even has a Twitter account – apparently dwells in a subterranean stream somewhere in the region of Queen Street and should someone thoughtlessly build a train line through its home will cause all kinds of mischief with public transport. At least that is what Glenn Wilcox, a member of the Auckland Maori Advisory Board, tells us.

I suspect Mr Wilcox is not to be believed.

Let’s be honest, once the rail tunnel is built Horotiu will have no chance of competing against ARTA who, by that stage, will have a full two decades of hands-on experience in buggering up public transport. And I also suspect he’ll still be having far too much fun messing with the heads of used car purchasers. Continue reading “Used Car Buying Is Hit and Myth” »